Horse Racing Throughout the History
Man has been known to use race horses for racing since this specie was first domesticated. Historical evidences uncover that as early as 4500 BC, the nomadic individuals of Central Asia has already developed techniques of horse racing. Actually, the Greeks tend to be known to have incorporated horse racing in the Olympics since 638 BC.
Both the chariot horse racing and also the mounted horse racing were well-liked during these ages. These types of later grew to become an obsession among Romans when they have adopted the activity.
For thousand of years that followed, this kind of sports was known to be performed only for the noble men as well as royalties.
Contemporary racing is believed to have started in the 12th century when the first reproduction between Arabian and English horses were made. They were sparred by the return of the noble knights to the mother land after the Crusades. These are known to possess produced sturdy horses with excellent pace. Thus, breeders maximized the potentiality of a racehorse and put all of them into tracks. This breed is the Thoroughbred that we know of today which is still typically the most popular breed in the United Kingdom.
King Charles II was known to have held horse races in his private courses during 1660 in order to 1685.
By the 16th century, the English had been known to make a quantity of racecourses. Queen Anne who founded the Ascot in 1711 is known to have made horse racing an official sport.
Halfway in 1700�s, the Jockey Club was made through the initiation of the elite figures involved in horse racing. This organization was the first legion of jockeys that established the actual comprehensive rules and regulations including the requirements as covered by the sports activities. Thus, these people grew to become the overseers of the sports and sanctioned horse racing occasions.
The Jockey Club was also the initiator for the legislation of breeding among horses. Thus, James Weatherby, an accountant of the Jockey Club during those occasions, traced back the family lines of all racing breeds in England. His researches brought forth the publication of the General Stud Book, which was essentially, the basis of authority in terms of the breeds that may be put to competition. According to the General Stud Book, only those pedigrees that have descended from the line of the “foundations sires” are believed as Thoroughbreds. The building blocks sires are the: Byerley Turk, Darley Arabian and Godolphin Arabian.
Only in 17th century did the sport arrive in America for which the initial racetrack was seen in the Long Island. While it has become a favorite past time among Americans, no one initiated the actual formalization of horse racing until after the Civil War. Due to the already-established obsession plus the industrial development, as well as widespread gambling on horse races, the activity grew largely by the year 1890 when 314 operating tracks are considered to be on regular operation in the country.
Because of the lack of a governing body, this activity had become purely dominated by criminal elements. In 1894 though, the most notable and high-ranking stable owners met as well as organized the American Jockey Club which was patterned on the system as used by the actual Jockey Club in England.
These days the sport has reached various countries around the world. Governing bodies were also formed to manage the horse racing events.